I am honored to be elected as Chair of the EJUSA Board, an organization I have long admired.
I was introduced to EJUSA many years ago through its work to end the death penalty, driving repeal campaigns in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and other parts of the country. I became more intimately familiar with its work during my tenure at Open Society Foundations (OSF), where EJUSA was an anchor grantee in our death penalty portfolio.
I vividly recall a conversation I had over lunch one day with founder Shari Silberstein. She spelled out a vision for a criminal legal system that turned away from punishment as its primary response, one that instead focused on healing, safety, and accountability that repairs everyone affected by harm.
At the time, my team at OSF was wrestling with the urgency of reducing the harm and excesses of the current system while at the same time recognizing we needed to support building something concrete in its place, something that provided real community healing and safety. Something that confronted the disproportionate harm that longstanding practices had wreaked on Black and Brown communities. Our job was to invest in those solutions, and we were eager to support EJUSA’s bold vision.
In 2021, after years of witnessing EJUSA evolve and demonstrate how to work with partners to center the community in creating true solutions promoting safety, I discovered that Jami Hodge was taking over for Shari. I knew Jami to be a brilliant thinker, passionate advocate, and effective leader. When she called soon after to ask if I was interested in joining the board, I had no hesitation.
Now, I’ve been elected to be our next board chair, succeeding Jesselyn McCurdy and her six years leading the board. They are big shoes to fill. Jesselyn has been a leader on various social justice issues throughout her career, and a dedicated and tireless chair and champion for EJUSA and its work.
I am committed to building upon her leadership and impact, along with the rest of our outstanding board, visionary leader, and exceptional staff. I am excited about what lies ahead. We continue to beat back the death penalty in multiple states. Our groundbreaking Trauma to Trust program, fostering greater understanding between the community and police, is on the cusp of national expansion. Our new Restorative Justice Project is a powerful pathway to healing that demonstrates our vision for true justice, safety, and accountability that repairs.
I take all this in as I reflect on that question we had at OSF years ago: What organizations are building solutions to a racist, harmful legal system?
In EJUSA, I’ve found one with a distinct, inspiring vision and a strategic plan to make that vision real. I’m honored to offer my experience and leadership as, together, we build the justice system that people need to thrive. My ultimate goal as incoming chair is for you to see that same promise of safety and justice, to inspire a shared investment, and to make our vision reality.
